Beschreibung:

Lot of 7, including Civil War-date letters, a Confederate parole, CDV, and an ambrotype. Letters notable for detailed descriptions of the military situation in western Virginia, with two letters written by women offering powerful firsthand accounts of warfare on the home front. All items descended directly through the family of Josiah William Ware (1802-1883). Josiah Ware, a descendant of the James Ware family that settled in Virginia in the early 1700s, was the owner of the prosperous antebellum plantation known as "Springfield" located near Winchester, VA. Through two marriages he was the father of twelve children, two of which joined him in service to the Confederacy. HDS indicates the following: Josiah W. Ware served with the VA 34th Militia Infantry, enlistment date unknown; James Alexander Ware (1832-1896), Co. F 1st Texas Cavalry, enlisted 2/1/1863 as a captain; Charles Alexander Ware (1841-1915), enlisted 4/25/1861 as a private and later assistant surgeon with service in VA 1st, 6th, and 18th Cavalry, McClanahan's Horse Light Artillery, and Field & Staff VA 45th Infantry. Included in the archive are two letters written by Josiah Ware to his son Captain James Ware who was serving in the Corpus Christi, TX, area. The first letter, 4pp, dated January 7, 1863, gives an extraordinarily detailed account of military activity in the area near Springfield plantation, with reference to troop movements, Union and Confederate commanders, enslaved people fleeing and assisting the enemy, his own imprisonment, and his efforts to retrieve property stolen from his plantation. His firsthand observations on the plight of the average Confederate soldier are evocative, noting amongst other things Confederate cavalry who were "barefooted with spurs buckled around their naked feet, some painted their feet black to represent boot & shoes...." This letter also includes references to General Ashby whose CDV accompanies the archive. The second later, 2pp, is undated (ca 1863). Again, J.W. Ware discusses military activity in the area around Springfield, with interesting discussion related to personal politics and the appointment of commands in the CSA. Ware decries Union efforts to solicit the assistance of enslaved African Americans, noting "I understand they are behaving badly in Winchester - stuck up placards informing the Negroes they are now free but advising them to stay with their masters and require wages and to arm themselves and defend themselves if their masters attempt to force them - and that their masters, if they do so, will be considered Rebels in arms." Lucy Balmain Ware Lewis (1839-1866), youngest daughter of Josiah Ware, and Edmonia J. Ware (1817-1900), second wife of Josiah Ware, each have a letter in the archive addressed to Elizabeth "Key" Ware Britton (1837-1925), who was at the time residing in Texas with her new husband Dr. Edward Britton, a CSA surgeon. Lucy's letter details military movements, family news, an assessment on the state of Springfield, and more. Edmonia's letter, dated July 31, 1864, following the Battle of Snicker's Ferry (July 17-18, 1864) and after Yankees had camped on Springfield, describes in painful detail trials endured in a war zone. She writes, in small part: "They poured down on the place like 40,000 thieves, broke into the meat house, poultry houses and cellars in a moment's time, carried off the horses which were left, killed hogs, sheep and calves, destroyed the garden, cut up the harnesses .... So you imagine we are not far from starving...It was with much difficulty I kept them out of the house but I locked the doors and defied them to break the locks - telling them I knew the penalty for house breaking... You see that the malignity of the present campaign is without a parallel in history...." Letters accompanied by: partially printed "parole of Honor" from "Head Quarters Cavalry Middle Military Division, Office Provost Marshal," approx. 5 x 6 in. Winchester, VA. April 18, 1865. Completed in